38: (The Letter) Sad
This five-section chapter contains
88 early Meccan verses; it was revealed afte r The
Moon 54 and before The Heights 7. Its revelation occurred during a period
of
intense trial for the Prophet.
The title refers to the unvoiced velarized sibilant, or the letter S
which
here may stand for As -Sadiq or the Truthful [God] or the friend (who tells
you everything, whether you want to hear it or not); thus it means our
voice of
conscience or power of discretion.
One of David's judgments is described in a dramatic manner (II) Solomon
then
appears (III); next Job and other prophets (IV). Soon we have a description
of
Heaven and Hell (IV) and the chapter ends with Diabolis' fall (V).
ste somewhat parallel to those of 21:V-VI.
Sections III-IV